Philippine Youth Team bracketed with defending champion USA in the FIBA U-17 World Championship for Men

THE Philippine Youth Team landed in the same group as defending champion United States in the Fiba U-17 World Championship for Men, which held its official draw in Dubai early Thursday morning (Manila time).

The youth team of coach Jamike Jarin had been bracketed with the Americans, Greece, and Angola in Group A.

Group B meanwhile, is composed of Japan, France, Canada, and Australia, runner-up to the Americans during the last staging of the meet held in Lithuania two years ago.

Puerto Rico, the host country, Italy, and Spain make up Group C, while Group D is comprised of Argentina, China, Serbia, and Egypt.

The meet will be held from August 8-16 at the Al Ahli Arena & Al Wasl Arena in Dubai.

Ismail Al Gargawi, President of the UAE Basketball Association, said: "This is a first for basketball and a first for the UAE in hosting and participating in one of FIBA's World Championships.

"I'm delighted that we and our partners can help showcase basketball to the nation and increase the interest and participation in our great sport.

"We are looking forward to hosting our friends from FIBA and our other distinguished guests from around the world and showing them all that Dubai has to offer."

The Philippines earned a berth in the biennial meet following its stunning runner-up finish behind China during the FIBA-Asia U17 Championship held last year in Tehran, Iran.

The youth team is spearheaded by Mike Nieto, Andres Desiderio, Jose Mendoza, among others.

The inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship was staged in Hamburg, Germany in 2010. The second edition took placetwo years later in Kaunas, Lithuania.

The USA have won both editions to date, which featured the 12 best national teams in the world from across FIBA's five continental zones on both occasions.

The success and interest in the first two U17s was so high that, starting in 2014, the tournament will consist of a 16-team field - the same competition format as the FIBA U19 World Championship.

Both U17 and U19 Men's tournaments - and their women's equivalents - cater to the growing potential and popularity of youth competitions and ensure that every generation of global basketball talent gets the chance to compete at the highest international level.